How I Became A Professional Screenwriter by Christine Conradt

In this video, screenwriter Christine Conradt shares her story of working at the YMCA and being granted (yet another) promotion with excellent pay. Since she had completed a 4-year degree at USC film school and her real love was writing, she took the potential promotion offer home and returned to work the following day with her 2 weeks notice. Christine’s promise to herself was to take out a line of credit for 6 months and live life as a writer. In this video she shares what happens and how she made use of her time during this risky, 6 month period. Christine fully acknowledges how risky this was for her financially but at the same time necessary for her life, knowing not everyone has done it successfully and (unfortunately) is left with extreme debt.
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[@Boxxxxxxxxx]

Wow she denied a 100k job. Mad respect for the tenacity to pursue her dreams. Legendary.

[@user-zd1jh5zz9n]

I agree a bird in the hand is worth a flock in the bush.

[@bidemiantonio9346]

I am in her exact dilemma right now. I'm contemplating taking out a loan and quitting my job. I'm in the my late 30s now and I figure it's now or never. I gotta make something happen.

[@nicolobuscaroli3716]

What did you decide?

[@echoingamy]

Ya what did u do?

[@Jambajuice89]

@@nicolobuscaroli3716 I’m preparing to shoot my first feature film this year!!

[@weirskii]

@@Jambajuice89 good shit

[@toyaamor155]

@@Jambajuice89 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@jessicabailey6792]

Everyone's journey as a screenwriter is different. Some will have a real tough road ahead and some won't, but everyone will have a challenge that will affect their success to some extent. I am thankful that many are willing to share their experiences. It helps to know a lot of this information.

[@Jjrmtv]

I am so glad I saw this. Left a soul crushing day job to become a screenwriter. It took about 90 days for me to decompress and feel alive again. I write daily, but not enough (that will now change) do attend networking events (now will do more). Will submit specs (follow-thru). See more movies. Attend more lectures. Make the dream happen. Otherwise, why bother? Thank you Christine for sharing. It is one thing to be a screenwriter, and actually living as one.

[@goldenboyproductions7229]

I feel some may not believe her story because it sounds like a Cinderella story in screenwriting. One of the things I noticed in these interviews is some leave very little reason to continue as a hopeful screenwriter. But, my thought is don’t get into writing to make it but rather do it because you love it, and that you feel compelled to tell stories. Then maybe, just maybe the day will come when you do land a job doing what you love and get paid for it. I do agree that as an author myself of a memoir, it is HARD to get noticed. When I was a boy we lived in the projects where the screams, shootings, noise, and bizarre behavior were part of everyday life. But our strength as a family kept us together. And even though we were poor, living on welfare in a roach-infested apartment, my mother believed in the future and that someday we would live in a better place. There were times my father took the meat from free lunches that kids threw to provide us with a meal. My twin brother was once stabbed while saving my life. Then one day my parents finally scraped together enough money to send us to another state. It was a desperate attempt at a safe new life, but our sudden escape from the ghetto actually meant the beginning of the struggles I faced growing up in this new place. You sometimes think "why me...? What makes me so different from everyone else who's made it?" Believe me when I say this…. NOTHING… however, your destiny as a writer does make you different. Here’s a little back story: I’ve had every job you could possibly imagine. When I was 14teen I worked on hardwood floors scraping and pulling edges all day long up to 8 hours a day, by the time I got home I felt like someone had lit a torch to the middle of my back. I later graduated from that to working as a busboy and washing dishes. Believe me when I say… this was a nice break. From that I went to washing windows, fixing cars, working on a hospital food trayline making $3.25 an hour, driving a bus for disabled kids, mowing lawns and doing all kinds of yard work, including bucking hay. Then from that to getting a job at a screen print shop for umbrellas and t-shirts, and finally landing a job at one of the biggest shoe companies in the world. I then went from that to becoming a mechanical artist and designer not because I went to college for it but because the people in this facility liked me and gave me a chance and I hustled because I knew what if felt like to have nothing. After all that, years later I lost my job and went back to driving buses then working for an oncology unit seeing first-hand how cancer does not discriminate. I’d see parents, athletes, grandparents including children lose their lives. I've listened to many stories by those who would give anything to have a few minutes of life with those they missed and loved. Some would go into remission only to come back and pass away in the hands of a nurse and the last face they would ever see. I lost my mother, my father, my best friend, my grandmother and have watched my twin brother fight cancer. Finally, the end as sad as it may sound, watched my wife cradle our first born until he passed away in her arms as she sang him his favorite song. I have seen many people die and have been through many hardships. There were times I had no money in the bank and there were times I had some, and every day I felt like giving up. But, regardless of all my tribulations in the 52 years I have lived, as well as the good I have seen, I’ve come to realize that to be a writer one has to do this for themselves than for what could come from it. On that note, I will say that I once brought my manuscript to a writers' conference and pitched it to an agent. She briefed over it, looked at me and said "I should write screenplays." Well, I never did take her advice because life just got in the way and I will admit I was also scared to try something different. Today I've written several scripts -- none of which I have submitted but my life has given me content and that comes with time. There's still a lot more to this story than I could possibly say, but If I could give any writing or screenwriting advice on how to make it is this…. Give it time… take a chance but also LIVE before and while you write. That’s when you’ll realize you'll have something to say and for people to relate to.

[@williamgarnett9087]

Eddie Regory ...brilliant. My sympathy for your losses. Have a tally myself. Good words, man. Write on.

[@swerve361]

U gave me hope

[@joana3652]

This was truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing your story

[@samantacarvalho8669]

You should definitely give it a go and I hope you succeed. You made me cry, Sir. I'm crying tears of hope and sympathy for your story. Thank you so much for your words.

[@quotesbyinfamous]

Thank you for sharing your life story.

[@matthewprince9705]

Her imdb resume is certified! She one of the queens of writing Lifetime flicks! She's done NINE ".....At 17" movies 😃

[@pearlskakler4648]

This is my 2 cents. Her model is perfect for some people; people like myself. I left a job that paid very well, gave me medical and dental benefits, a retirement plan, the whole 9 and I was good at it. But, it was sucking out my soul and I need fire under my feet to keep me moving toward my goal. If I'd had transferred to another office here in NYC from where I'm from back home, I would have never gotten the gigs I've gotten in the 4 months I've been here. I left the job and am living off of my 401k which goes pretty damn fast living in New York. I only have a few more months to make something happen for myself before I need to either hightail it back home OR get some kind of steady job. That's the fire and it keeps you moving.

[@danterobles4819]

Can you please tell me about your process?

[@wflores7]

Te only thing I am going to say is that I watched the film: "Accused at 17" just today, and I think you did an excellent job. Although this is a film that was aired in 2010, I found it very good and the drama and actors did awesome. Congratulations! February 19, 2018.

[@christineconradt9895]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ravenburneskushner1825]

Very inspirational and motivating. Thank you!

[@VintageAfro91]

I like her story. I can definitely relate.

[@annebantha2069]

very inspiring

[@daninbox]

So brave Christine.

[@austinlempke3203]

Just looked her up and found out she was born and raised in the same city as me. We have very similar dreams and and to have someone like her live that from where we are from is very inspiring

[@yondel-kttkoh3948]

Austin Lempke woopie dooo lol she was born in my city who cares lol

[@izzy460]

Where are u now ?

[@michealmahmoud6391]

I needed this!

[@bradebronson8835]

Great story. Follow your dreams and sacrifice and you will eventually get there.

[@cobracommander8133]

Brade Bronson yeah follow your dreams, good luck with that. There are thousands of people living in Hollywood that have been sacrificing and following their dreams for years and years with NO LUCK, and you're looking at one person as the example that "you will eventually get there".

[@bradebronson8835]

Cobra Commander. Have fun in your cubicle at your 9-5 job. Say hi to your boss for me too.

[@cobracommander8133]

Brade Bronson Good one.

[@TraciDargan]

Cobra Commander those thousands of people usually haven’t created anything... and if they have they haven’t networked... or they only created one thing. You keep writing/making films/whatever it is. If ur not building your portfolio or promoting it you’re not going to get anywhere.

[@raew5263]

Good but brief of “ How”she became a screenwriter. It would be so helpful to know specifics; where did she submit and where/ how did those lead to paying gigs. Just sayin’... 😎

[@usernametaken2tekken]

What a boss.

[@amandataebby]

I guess she would get all this info in film school - but I'm lost how anyone quits their job and writes, then gets work as a screenwriter. I suppose she got lucky because she has a degree, made a portfolio, her work was good, and got jobs. It's so competitive especially in LA. I just saw a film of hers she wrote and quite enjoyed it, that's why I looked her up.

[@stefankalabus1251]

My journey on how I took an interest in screenwriting is far from the norm... I’ve always had an aspiration to be a movie star or to make my own film when I was a kid (I’m sure many people had the same dream when they were younger). Oddly enough, one night I was hanging out at the firehouse (I’m a volunteer firefighter) one night talking with my captain and we were just joking around and laughing about funny films and we talked about other things. I ain’t kidding you when I randomly had this thought: “holy shit I just thought of a great idea for a story of a film that I would obviously never make” lmao. I’m debating on writing a story about a man who is chasing his dreams of becoming a career firefighter at a department he applied for. He gets the job and as years go by, he starts getting this itch to see more fires after having responded to several structure fires over the years since he started his career. He was never aware of his obsession with fire before getting hired by the FD since he was never exposed to the adrenaline that comes with fighting a fire (going interior to suppress the fire, search for victims, etc). When he commits arson for the first time while off duty, he then in the moment realizes how exciting it makes him feel and the rush that it gives him. It’s not like he is jumping up and down but deep inside it makes him feel alive and pleased. To him it’s a work of art. He gradually goes from setting a small shed on fire, to igniting a car on fire. He then turns up the heat by switching up his own methods to light a house on fire from the exterior. He recognizes how skillful he is when it comes down to arson. There’s more to it and I obviously am gonna change all of what I just typed but I was kinda just brainstorming off of the top of my head while writing this. I wanna make this a reality

[@taxin2476]

Why is it non of these people ever tell what they wrote, what sold and didn't sell, And for how much. That to me is very important to know for us what kind of money can be made.

[@johnbob9546]

Taxin 24/7 same

[@waynedurning8717]

Go to Imdb to see what she wrote....Lazy bones.

[@christineconradt9895]

Hi Taxin. I might be able to give you some insight into why I don't typically talk about how much specific scripts sold for and I'm guessing it goes for most other screenwriters as well. First off, my personal opinion is that if you're getting into screenwriting for the money, you shouldn't. You should write screenplays because you love telling stories and can't imagine doing anything else as an occupation. So for me, the specific amounts I've made per script aren't really important when I look at the totality of my career in screenwriting. Second, most contracts have a non-disclosure clause that prevents the writer from publicizing those specifics. Producers don't advertise that they've paid one writer one amount and other writers a different amount. That would certainly come back to haunt them. Third, it doesn't benefit the writer to say that the most they've made on a script is $100,000. If a producer reads that, they may offer only $100,000 to that writer instead of the $150,000 they were going to offer, believing the writer will be happy with that amount. Fourth, the range of compensation is enormous. You can make as little as $500 and you can make well beyond the $75,000 WGA minimum. You can sell a script for $10 if you're willing. And early in your career, if that's what it takes to get a sole writing credit, it may be worth it. Of course no one can live on that, so at some point, you have to hold out for more. But if there's a particular genre or actor or director I want to work with, I've taken less than I did on previous projects to have a chance to work with that actor/producer/in that genre. There's also something else to consider: whether the studio/producer is a guild signatory or not, and if the writer joins the union. Union writers must make WGA minimum (which is based on the budget of the film) while non-union writers can negotiate any price they want. On a $500,000 TV movie, the producer certainly isn't going to pay the writer $75,000 or 20% of the budget. But on a $4M movie, they will. So it depends as well on the budget of the film and whether the studio/network/producer is a signatory. So for all those reasons, that's why writers don't offer that information. If you're interested in knowing what kind of money can be made, the honest answer is: You may write ten screenplays and never make a cent. Or you might make six to seven figures a year consistently. You might have a great year and make a couple hundred thousand and then the following year, make under $100K. It all depends on what sells, what the budget was, and when the project goes into production as well as if you've negotiated a deal that gives you back end points or not. There's just no simple answer but I hope that helps you understand what's realistic in terms of the kind of money to be made. And if you want to know what someone wrote, just look at their IMDB page.

[@taxin2476]

Christine Conradt Wow thank you very much for taking the time to reply and touch on all my questions with such depth. I apologize but i have one more question. With all your film education, hands on experience and life time of knowledge you have earned and acquired if you could go back in time and tell your younger self to read this, learn & master that. What knowledge and education would you pass on to your younger self and possibly the young man standing next ro her, THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU May just change my life Happy New Year Any educational material you recommend will be solid Gold for me.

[@christineconradt9895]

OOh, another good question and you're going to get a long answer from me. :) First off, I did have a film school education but you certainly don't need one. I learn best in an academic environment so I learned a ton from film school, but the most valuable thing about graduating from USC (an esteemed film school) is that the alumni that are working in the industry help each other get their start. The second job I had (an assistant in a production comany) had a lot to do with the fact that one of the guys interviewing me had also graduated from USC film. That doesn't mean that everyone who graduates from USC film ends up in the industry. In my class, we graduated 22 people. And only 4 of us are actually working in film. Four of my colleagues didn't like the struggle (who does?) and went back to school and become lawyers. But if I were standing next to younger Christine (and you) I would tell you both this: Do what you love and the money will come (it's true!). Be patient because nothing about how your career will unfold is going to happen the way you think it will. Be open to opportunities that don't fit into your career plan because those will make the biggest impact on your career. Keep learning and take as many writing classes and workshops as you can. It will keep you surrounded by inspired, creative people and that's where you feel most at home, and those are the people that will rise as you rise. Learn to meditate. It will take you to creative places you wouldn't otherwise be able to go. Be willing to be paid nothing at all just for opportunities to try something new. Compromise in your writing to get a project made, but never compromise your principles. Through the successful days and the not so successful days, be the person you want to be, and don't let the success or failures change you. I know it's a lot but it's what I've learned and had I known all of these things to be truths tweny years ago, I would have saved myself a lot of worrying and stress. As for educational material, there are so many great resources out there. On my shelf, I still have Save the Cat, Screenplay: Film Form and Content (by Margaret Mehring), and Syd Field's The Screenwriters Workbook. There is one more book that I always recommend. I contributed to it but I don't make money from its sales-- it's just a great book that if you follow every exercise in it, you will absolutely be a better writer by the time you're done than when you started. It's called Now Write! Screenwriting, edited by Laurie Lamson. It's full of exercises put together by people working in the industry. I would also say, read as many scripts as you possibly can. Bad ones help you the most because they teach you what not to do, and good ones are the most inspiring. The writers store also has a lot of great videos about writing. When you can get them on sale, you can get three for the price of one and you have access for a year. Find the ones that appeal to you, and watch a few. And lastly, join a writers group. It will not only give you access to other people's scripts, but it will force you to write almost daily, help you understand how your own writing needs to be improved, and will offer moral support during the tough times when you get your tenth rejection and feel like calling it quits. If you start with those things, the rest will begin to unfold. Whenever you pick a direction, the universe will correct it if you've picked the wrong one and guide you the right way. If you simply stay still, and don't pick a direction, there is no energy for the universe to shape and guide. So create a plan and a timeline to start your own self-education and be open to the tweaks to that plan that life will put in your path. :)

[@garyleeheard3434]

I'm getting back into writing . Anyone know if the software Trebly would be fine just to write A full length spec script?..

[@joseafalvel]

It could sound obvious but what gave her good results is not necessarily the path to follow by we, the ones who want to become screenwriters. It's always interesting to hear the stories of people who already are part of the industry but as she said. herself wouldn't give the advice of doing what she did. All roads lead to Rome.

[@great456789]

What she did was insane

[@michaelsix9684]

most of the time you won't sell your first screenplays, they only help you get work, get noticed etc.

[@jag5798]

I wonder what two screenplays that she wrote made her noticeable, but didn’t sell?

[@bigphilly7345]

Awesome story but DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME, KIDS!

[@steviewrites4178]

How she "use 2 scripts to get work?" Take aways: -Write every day. -Go to networking events. -Writing & reading. -Watching movies, breaking them down into an outline to understand structure. *Have a plan, execute that plan.

[@film_magician]

Ouhhm.

[@Moxormog]

lol k

[@AlieshiaTV]

YWCA 😂

[@cobracommander8133]

This is such bullcrap. I call total bullcrap. That did not happen the way she's describing it. I'm sure there is some truth to her story, but there is something else she is not telling us.

[@filmcourage]

Why do you feel the need to respond this way?

[@bradebronson8835]

I smell jealousy.

[@cobracommander8133]

Film Courage because I've lived and worked in Hollywood for over 15 years trying to "make it" and I'm sick of people telling lies that mislead people with false hope. There's one way to make it in Hollywood right now, and it has nothing to do with talent. Modern Hollywood makes Game of Thrones look like Seseme Street. You have to be willing to stab anyone in the back to get ahead. If you're not willing to stab a family member in the back, forget it, you'll never make it on talent alone. I'm sorry if that's too real for you and/or some of your viewers, but that's the truth. That's the reality of it.

[@bradebronson8835]

Cobra Commander lol what are you a PA? Talent doesn't get you noticed? That's why you havent made it. You have to also be willing to work well with others. Seems like you like to stab people in the back and have a negative attitude. I don't even know you and I'd never want to work with you. lol. Sound like a jaded angry person who never made it. Maybe because you really have no talent and you should have just picked another line of work. Thats reality.

[@cobracommander8133]

Brade Bronson No, the problem is that I DON'T like to stab people in the back.